Monday, March 4, 2013

Working For An Empty Suit

This CEO Blogger has been working since I was 12 years old.  I have had good bosses, great bosses, lousy bosses, incompetent bosses, mean bosses and both women and men.  Over the years, I learned something from all of them.  But my worst boss, I would describe as a man in an Empty Suit.  You know the type, looks the part, tall, handsome, even somewhat articulate as long as the discussions didn't get too complex; otherwise this guy was a one inch deep lake.  You scratch below the surface and there was nothing there.   Just dumb as wood. 

This particular Empty Suit would end every meeting with me by saying, "Do I owe you anything", meaning was there anything he needed to do for me to allow me to do my job.   On two occasions, I mentioned some things I really needed him to do to make things happen within our company.   And, both times he told me No Way and that he would not do the things I requested.   As such, I quickly realized that when he asked me the question, "Do I owe you anything" my standard answer was supposed to be, no nothing, because he had no intention of sticking his neck out to do anything for me. 

Once I realize my Empty Suit boss was worthless, I never really went to him again for anything.   In fact, I tactfully worked around him to get my job done.  Mr. Empty Suit became irrelevant and soon thereafter he was fired as just one of the passing parade of 8 bosses I had during a six year period, while working for a major company.  

If you encounter an Empty Suit during your career, don't worry, eventually someone higher up will figure out that there isn't any there, there.   As Forest Gump always said, "Stupid is as Stupid does."  The Empty Suit will be fired, or forced out one way or another.  It is just a matter of time.  They can run, they can hide; but only for so long.  Sooner or later, the Empty Suit will be gone.  In the mean time, just do your job as best you can and seek out others within the company that can help you succeed.    And, remember, be nice to everyone because you never know who your next boss is going to be.